Note: I'm still working on my character and such, but if I don't make this now I'll forget... :(

In Character: Alexander-Ray wasn't nervous. Not really. It wasn't as if he was completely in the dark! Yes; he was a mudblood. Yes; he was a first year. But he hadn't been raised by muggles. He knew more about the wizarding world than he did about the muggle world! Though, to be fair, he did know a great deal about the muggle world as well. Considering the fact that if his parents hadn't died or beheaded themselves he would be living with them; he was actually glad he didn't have to. Perhaps it was creulty in his tone that pushed him away when Lois Mahoney brought him to the station, but he needed this. "Mum," Why not call the woman who raised you mum? "I don't want them to know about this do you understand?"

"Ray, you're my boy. I don't even have contact with them." Speaking of the other family... Some were still living.

"Lies." He said simply. The two started to laugh together. What was so funny about the situation? Nothing really. Nothing; unless you were a Mahoney.

Alexander-Ray boarded the train and found the first empty compartment. He wondered.

Cassie was not excited for a new year. She never was after...well that wasnt something she needed to think about. She stood there with her father waiting for the train to take off when she felt a tug on her knee. A little girl sat there with a surfing magazine smiling up at her. Cassie chuckled and signed it quick;y. Over the summer her career had taken off. She had competed more and more and was gaining popularity. She boarded the train ready for the show. Everyyear she welcomed the firsties with a fireworks display. She ran up and down the corridors setting them off to roaring applause, throwing in a fe cartwheels whenever. She finished and gave a low bow, She hadnt changed uchl He rhair was still long and red and in beachy waves, She had on a pair of plaid shorts with a light green cami. Walkng intp a compartment she smiled at the newbie, kicking in the window panel for hern window seat. "G'day there. Names Cassie" she introduced herself, her Australian accent thick as she took a seat.

The trip from Paris was long. She had dropped her younger sisters off to go the Beauxbatons before heading over to Platform 9 3/4. Now that she thought about it, the trip had really only taken an hour, but the packing and stress of getting ready was what made it long. Not to mention the fact that through the whole trip she heard Addison in the back seat talking to her boyfriend on the phone,
"No you hang up first." was the most common phrase which lasted 20 minutes until finally Emma reached back with one hand, the other on the steering wheel and grabbed the cell.

After boarding the train, Emma went through her prefect duties, and looked forward to find a quiet, relaxing cabin to stay in. The first one she came upon only had two people in it, Cassie and a first year boy she had not met.

Opening the door, she let her greyhound through Leala, who immediately went over to Cassie with it's tail wagging, happy to see a familiar face. "Hello everyone." she said with a smile, before sitting down, storing all of her stuff on the rack about the seats. Her French accent was definitely noticeable, but within the next month it would fade away. "How is everyone?" she asked before turning to the boy, "Hi I'm Emma, and you are Alex?" she asked, trying to remember one of the names of the new first year boys.

The number of males compared to that of females taking their places in various compartments on the train was... At a lack. Two girls, who had obviously come before, made their ways in and he smiled for not a moment before he was asked if his name was Alex. "Alexander-Ray actually. Usually Ray; not many people are allowed to call me Alex. Hope you don't mind." Politeness wasn't the problem, it was just that it sometimes took a while to establish a comfort level. For some reason he didn't think it would take as long this time. Perhaps because he would have no choice?

Cassie grinned as Emma walked in. It was a fake grin bt she did not want to turn off the new kid. She waved then turned back to the new kid. "Alex huh...there;s another alex too...odd" she commented with a grin. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the latest surfing maagzine, flipping through till she found an article she liked. She read scanned it, popping a peice of gum into her mouth. SHe popped a bubble occaisionally then commented to the new kid, "SO whats your story" she asked turning a page.

Sabrina had been trying to convince her parents that she was indeed over Khai and that Jake had done nothing wrong...and she was failing miserably.

Her mother had tried to talk to her every chance she got and Sabrina was now in a foul mood. She was in the front seat with ehr mom and just as Stpehenie Parlay(her mom) tried to say soething Sabrina said, "Can we please just have a quiet car ride?"

Stephenie silenced herself immediatelt and opened the doors of the car. she kissed Sab good bye on the cheek. HUgged her and said, "be good."

Sabrina roleld her eyes and walked onto the paltform, then she stepped onto the train. She follwed the familiar scent of fireworks as she knew cassie would be there. She always didi fireworks and cartwheels.

But she wasn't as happy as she seemed.

She walked into the compartment that had Emma, Cassie, and a new kid in it.
She smiled and said, "hey all." she hugged em and cassie lightly and then sat down beside the new kid.

"What your name? and what's your house?" she asked the new kid. "i'm Sabrina Parlay, 4th year Slytherin." she said.

He looked over as another red head ventured in and questions erupted. "Sorting happens after I get there..." He said with a point. Ray ignored the fact that the Austrilian called him Alex even after he pointed out that he went by Ray. "Ray." He said simply, deciding not to go into the whole Alexander-Ray Mahoney, born to muggles raised by a witch thing. He wasn't all to in the mood to tell his story to complete strangers. Especially when he wasn't sure about them yet.

Emma smiled when he corrected her. "Oh sorry Ray, your name was written on my list as Alex. I guess I'll have to fix that." she said politely, hugging Sabrina slightly as she sat down. Looking over she saw Cassie reading, which reminded her she had something to give Cassie. As she rummaged through her bags, she finally found the small parcel that was wrapped up with Cassie's name on it. It was from her younger sisters who had taken a liking to Cassie and her pranks. "Here." she said, handing it to her friend. Inside of it was a small bottle of some kind of potion. Emma didnt know what it was, nor did she know if she wanted to find out.

"we knew what house we were before we even got on the train. Hey cass, remember when we used to say we were twins, and u were the vil twin?" she laughed at the memory.

"those were the day..." she sighed and said, "well, Ray she said and stifled a giggle, "what's your favorite kind of music?"

Cassie smirked at the kid. She wasnt sure what to think of him but he intrugued her. Cassie continued to read until Emma handed her something. She opened it and retrived the potion. With a quick whiff she smirk. :Love your sisters" she commented sticking the bottle in her bag. She too retrieved a package and passed it to Emma. "For the Twins" she said and nothing else. With a qucik turn to Sbarina she shook ehr head. "No" she said going back to her magazine.

Sabrina frowned when CAssie said she didint; rememebr.

Sasbrina felt a litle hurt, but she shook it off.
"so, you excited for HOgwarts?" she didin't want to bringe the vibe down and make the kid hate hogwarts.

He looked at the girls again. "Excited? I suppose so..." Alexander-Ray smiled for a moment at them. "Sure are lots of pretty girls around Hogwarts aren't there?" Ray commented on things like that when he noticed them. It wasn't that that was the only things he looked for, it was just one of the things he saw. After all, isn't it easier to look at appearances? Looking out the window he watched the train start up and the wheels start to turn around a few times. Ray ran a hand through his hair and tapped his hand on his knee.

Cassie chuckled. "Most definately....you find the hottays in the Slythy house" she kidded popping her strap with a giggle. "Dont be excited for Hogwarts. Its nothing after your first year. Just try to flow through. Stay out of drama" she said throwing a knowing look to Sabrina. "And hang will the cool crowd. Oh and dont get killed" she said shrugging and leaning. She looked out the window as the train moved. She always liked and hated this part. Yet she couldnt put her finger on it why?

"I only answer yes or no questions for the benefit of the one who asked them. Personally I like to ask questions that you need to use more than a single syllable to answer." Looking at the other red head - the one he was sure was a surfer (he would have guessed at it even if all he had seen was a school photo. It's just a look they pull off.) Alexander-Ray tilted his head and flashed a smirk. A muggle smirk. There were a few distinct notes between a muggle smirk and a wizard smirk, but he didn't suppose most people could tell which was which. "Get killed?" This made him stiffle a laugh. "I highly doubt it."

Sabrina heard Ray say he doubted he would get killed.
"oh. Don't doubt it." she laughed.

"With all the things that goon at hogwarts, you could die in a heartbeat... I've ha my fair share of close calls..CAssie and me both have had someone perform the Cruciatus curse on us.

"I'll doubt whatever I chose. And it's not doubting if you know you won't." He said. Ray looked at Cassie for a moment. "I'm sorry, I just have to ask. You're a surfer aren't you?" It wasn't as if he couldn't tell, he knew one when he saw one even though he wasn't much of a surfer himself. "Surfers get a different body build than any other sports-players. It's easy to tell if you put them side by side..." He said, his eyes looking over at the other red-head in comparison. Not that he usually would have, it was just for example.

Twyla walked into a compartment in the Hogwarts Express.Pushing her purple wavy hair behind her back she smiled at her friends."Hey Brini hey Cass"She said giving them both hugs."Hi I'm Twyla Thrid year Ravenclaw"She said to the boy talking to Cassie.

Cassie shrunk away slightly from the hug. She wasnt into it as much. As she turned back to look at Alex she grinned. "
I see you can tell who we are. I am a surfer born and true. Bred that way since the day I was born. National Junior League in Australia Captain" she said with a low bow. She down at herself. "I do got the surfers body. And its all real. No roids here" she said referring to the muggle surfers who took drugs in order to get their builds up. "Only blood sweat tears and many many trips to the muggle ermergency room"

Ray looked over as a girl with ridiculously purple hair trotted in and introduced herself in an odd way. Perhaps it was just easier but still. "First impressions mean everything..." He said simply to her, watching the surfer move away from the hug that came upon her at any rate. He shook his head visibly at the mention of a muggle hospital. "I'm not a fan..." Another simple statement that said barely anything about everything and nothing about nothing.

Sabrina listenend to Alex and CAssie go on about sports and surfing and then TWyla walked in. Sabrina accepted her greeting and smiled at her, hoping she still wasn't down about the funeral.

His gaze turned back towards the other red-head. "Fascinating how wrong my books can be..." He said, in a somewhat dry way that told everyone clearly that he wasn't truly fascinated. "I have this book that is supposed to determine behavioral patterns by body build, hair and eye color, and the first letter of the first word you speak to a person..." He shrugged mindlessly and looked out the window. "Though, sadly, I haven't met anybody with purple hair yet." He gestured to Twyla as he looked out the window.

Sabrina was very confused but she shook it of and said, "Speaking of purple, which is my favorite color by the way, nice chopice of hair color Twyla. But what's your favorite color Ray?" she asked him.

She hoped he would eventually open up.

Belle ran to get on the train, she caught it by nearly a second. This was her first year here, and she was really nervous. All of the compartments were full that she passed by. she opened one as she could not see all of the way inside it. Her green eyes scanned the compartment and she saw a boy who looked to be about her age and older girls.

"Hi, erm, is it full in here?" She asked shyly.

Kim was huffing and puffing as she ran down the train corridor. She was kicking herself inside for taking so long to say goodbye to her dad and sisters. Now look what you've done all the compartments are full she silently scolded herself.

As she searched the halls she saw a green-eyed girl who, judging by her nervous look, was probably a first year as well. She was standing outside a compartment that was quickly filling up. Now or never she thought to herself as she prayed that they could squeeze her in.

She slipped in behind the green-eyed girl. "Room for just one more?" she asked timidly brushing her curly black hair behind her ear. "Sorry, I don't mean to be a bother."

Chase saw one of a few familiar red head. The only one really that he was on regular speaking terms with, as well as a second one with whom he wasn't exactly. A first year pushed past him and went into the compartment, then another, and finally Chase noticed an old... Friend. "Alexander-Ray. Been a while." He was taller than the two young girls in front of him so it was easy to see who he was. Chase counted heads and laughed slightly. "These compartments can fit a ton of people... Cass." That was Cassie's cue to do her thing and enlarge the compartment like so usually did.

The sudden rush of stomping feet into the room helped him not answer the stupid, slightly personal, question about rainbow colors that was thrown at him. Still, he thought best not to ignore her completely. "I don't answer questions about myself until I trust people." He said. Ray shrugged at the two girls in a 'sure why not' sort of way and then he let out a laugh as Chase looked down at them. "Well, look at who it is. Summerview blood at Hogwarts? Say it ain't so!"

Cassie gave Alex a sympathetic smile and rolled her eyes. "What are you going to ask him next, what color he thinks is going to be hot for fall fashions." she commented sarcastically. Suddenly two first years came in. Standing up she went over and di a low bow. "NAmes Jordyn, Cassie Jordyn" she commented grinning brightly at them. Her Aussie accent was prominant and she was proud of it. Suddenly Chase walked in. She sat down at the end and silently enlarged the compartment. she was silent looking out the window

Ray raised his eyebrows at the surfer girls sudden... Lack of words. Considering she had just been quite chatty with him not a moment prior. Of coarse! Who had just entered? Summerview blood. Ray shook his head slightly and looked across at Cassie. As he saw her enlarge the compartment he switched from where he was and across beside her. "I'm not gonna ask for the story. It's pretty obvious. But I won't blame you if you leave..." He whispered before going into full blown words and putting on his best acting voice. "Cassie here just volunteered to show me what happens when we get onto the roof of the train. Didn't you?"

Cassie watched as Alex sat next to her, barely noticing. It wasnt until he spoke that she turned her head slightly to look at him. "Thanks" she said queitly brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. Suddenly she heard roof and her mind flashed for a moment to sometime in the past. She swallowed nervously and nodded. "Uh...yea I was" she said loudly popping open the window. She climbed out and moved down the bar till she climbed the ladder to the roof. She sat crisscross as she watched the sights move around her.

He noticed the awkward tinge in her voice and was tempted to laugh but did not for one of two reasons. Either, it would be rude, or he didn't want the Summerview to follow her. You can chose which for yourself. That way the best one gets chosen. Ray followed along after nodding to the group and saying these chosen words. "I'll be back." He had to follow after all. But he would come back down in a moment and let her slink away to whichever other compartment she chose. "I'll be out of your way in a moment then. Just have to pretend like this was exciting and that I'd never done anything like it before. Typical first year reaction I suppose would be that way..."

Kim nodded her head slightly to the red-headed Aussie who had just introduced herself. "My name is Kimberly Delacroix, but most people just call me Kim." she replied before taking a seat in the newly enlarged compartment.

Just when she had settled down, the girl who had introduced herself as Cassie popped open the compartment window and climbed out. This shocked her slightly and she let out a small gasp. Then to her surprise the boy called Alexander-Ray followed her. She must have had an odd look on her face because she suddenly noticed some of the other students giving her quizical looks. Her pale cheeks turned slightly pink and her eyes darted toward her lap. She had never been good at talking to strangers.

Cassie watched As Alex came up with her. "I didnt think yuo would come...." she said quietly sighing. She lay on her back and stared at the sky, It was couldy and the skies were grey. It was like it was reading her feelings. "I think I'm gonna stay up here...i like it much better" she said in a near whisper just loud enough for him to hear. "You can go back with summerview and sab and the two firsties" she said with a small chuckle.

"I suppose I'll have to since I said I would..." He said with a sigh that almost mocked a regular sigh. It was emphasized a pint to much, and it was for show. "I have a feeling someone would have come up and ruined your alone time if I didn't do it myself." The emphasis on someone made it known that he meant Chase. "I'm quite sure you wouldn't have appreciated a visit from the slave of the master." If Cassie had ever met 'Master Summerview' she would know exactly what he meant.

Cassie chuckled softly ata his sigh. "Mocking me firstie" she commented raising an eyebrow. "Well grab some train,take a seat" she said patting her hand down next to her. "I really do not want my alone time runed by another annoying person so i guess you'll do" she said teasing him. Looking up at the sky she nodded. "I really may have to leap off the train if he decded to show his his face up here" she whispered tucking a starnd of hair out of her eyes.

Ray raised his eyebrow at the same time as she did. "I apologize and admit to the fact that you are quite easy to mock. But I probably shouldn't be." When Ray heard the surfer girl say something about jumping off the side of the train he laughed. "If he decides to come up I can throw him off the train if you like. I was trained as a muggle as well as a wizard. Muggles are much stronger than pure wizards..." He flexed which made him laugh. "But I suppose it's what comes of being a mudblood..." He said, his tone going light as raindrops started to fall and he sat himself down.

Belle grinned at Cassie and introduced herself. "Belle Boudreau." She sat down in the enlarged compartment. She watched as the girl who introduced herslelf as Cassie climbed on the roof of the train. She looked around bewildered.
"Why did she just climb out of the window?"

Chase, laughing slightly at the two first years who were scared that the two people had just jumped out the window, probably to their deaths. "Their fine. Dare devils. Cassie likes how peaceful it is on the roof of the train..." He said. "So Sabs, how was your summer? And you two - I'm Chase. Summerview."

Belle looked relieved. "Good to know, I was worried I just saw two people commit suicide, I'm Belle Boudreau. It's nice to meet you, Chase. What house are you in?"

Cassie pretended to look affronted. "Scuse mee. I am not easy to mock. Im simply so lovable that people want to mimic me" she said giggling. She raised her eyebrows at the idea of Chase being thrown off the train and shook her head. "Nah..i can throw him off myself. I'm pretty hardcore myself you know" she said with a small laugh. "Ilive in Sydney, filled with a lot of muggles so im kinda used to it...oh its raining" she said joyfully letting the raindrops hit her face.

"Yeah, thats it." Ray said with a sight shake of his head. Which, of coarse, made his mop of blonde hair get in his face and water from it shake to god knows where. "Lovable certainly wouldn't be the word I would use. But you do put off a sense of torment. As if you do it on a regular to semi-regular basis." Ray nodded when she said it was raining. "I can see that." Lex was glad that she wasn't asked how he could be raised on magic if he was muggleborn. He wasn't in the mood to, as he had put it before, give his story.